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Revision as of 09:24, 18 April 2008

Bradford Bulls
File:BradfordBullsLogo.png
Club information
Full nameBradford Bulls
Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)Bulls
Founded1881
Current details
Ground(s)
ChairmanEngland Peter Hood
CoachEngland Steve McNamara
CaptainEngland Paul Deacon
CompetitionSuper League (Europe)
Uniforms
Home colours
Away colours
Records
Challenge Cups5

The Bradford Bulls are a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, England. It has been one of the major success stories of the Super League era, with the 2003 season being its best where the club successfully won all of the major rugby league honours, (Challenge Cup, Superleague Championship, World Club Championship, and Minor Premier) The team jersey is white with red, black and amber hoops. The club plays its home games at Grattan Stadium (formerly called Odsal Stadium) which is located to the south of the city centre.

History

1863 - 1907: In the Beginning

The Bradford Rugby Club was formed in 1863. Park Avenue was established as their home ground in 1880. It achieved its first major success by winning the Yorkshire Cup in 1884. In 1895, along with cross-town neighbours Manningham, Bradford was among 22 clubs to secede from the Rugby Football Union after a historic meeting at The George Hotel in Huddersfield, in response to a dispute over "broken time" payments to players. These 22 clubs formed the Northern Rugby Union. In 1903-4 Bradford finished level on points with Salford at the top of the league and then won the resulting play-off 5-0. Manningham ran into financial difficulties and, despite a summer archery contest that generated enough money to ensure their survival, its members were persuaded to change to Association football. The club was invited to join the Football League in 1903, in an attempt to introduce the soccer to the rugby-dominated region, and the newly renamed Bradford City A.F.C. was voted into full membership of the Second Division without playing a game of soccer, having a team or being able to guarantee a ground.

There was also a demand for Association Football at Park Avenue, which played host to soccer matches as well as Northern Union games. The first game of Association Football played at Park Avenue is believed to have been between Blackburn Rovers and Blackburn Olympic F.C. and in 1895 a Bradford side beat a team from Moss Side, Manchester 4 -1 in front of 3,000 spectators. In 1905-6 Bradford beat Salford 5-0 to win the Challenge Cup and were runners up in the Championship. The following season winning the Yorkshire Cup 8-5 against Hull Kingston Rovers.

With soccer already successful at Bradford City, a meeting was called of the club members on April 15th 1907 to decide the club's future. An initial vote appeared to favour continuing in the Northern Union, then opinion shifted towards rugby union but the Chairman, Mr Briggs, used his influence to swing the committee behind Association football. This act, sometimes referred to as "The Great Betrayal", led to Bradford becoming a soccer club, Bradford (Park Avenue) A.F.C. and a new team Bradford Northern was created to take the available place in the Northern Union. Bradford Northern's first home was Greenfield Athletic Ground.

Bradford Northern

Bradford moved to Birch Lane in 1908. Bradford council offered Bradford a site for a new stadium between Rooley Lane and Mayo Avenue in 1927. However the RFL said the site was too small and the club kept on looking. On 20 June 1933 Bradford Northern signed a ten-year lease with Bradford council for a former quarry being used as a waste dump at Odsal Top. It was turned into the biggest stadium outside Wembley. The Bradford Northern team played its first match there on September 1st 1934. Before moving to Odsal Bradford had had two other homes, Greenfield Athletic Ground in Dudley Hill and Birch Lane which was part of Bowling Old Lane Cricket ground, although at times they also had to hire Valley Parade as the capacity at Birch Lane was not sufficient enough for large matches.

1940s

Success came in the 1940s with a number of cup wins: the Yorkshire cup in 1940-1, 1942-3, 1944-5, 1945-6, 1948-9 and 1949-50; and the Challenge cup 1943-4, 1946-7 and 1948-9. In the championship Bradford found it difficult to win either before the war or after despite being runners up in 1942-3 and 1947-8.

On Saturday 3rd November 1945, Bradford Northern met Wakefield Trinity in the final of the Yorkshire Cup held at Thrum Hall, Halifax. Wakefield began the match as favourites, they had lost only one of thirteen matches thus far in the season. However, Bradford won 5-2 and lifted the Yorkshire Cup for the fourth time in six seasons.

Bradford defeated Leeds 8-4 to win the Challenge Cup at Wembley in 1947.

The 1947-8 Challenge Cup final was notable as it was the first rugby league match to be attended by the reigning monarch, King George VI, who presented the trophy. It was also the first televised rugby league match as it was broadcast to the Midlands. Unfortunately Bradford lost 8-3 to Wigan. The 1949 Challenge Cup final was sold out for first time as 95,050 spectators saw Bradford beat Halifax.

1950s

In 1951-2 Bradford were runners up in the league but beat New Zealand at Odsal in the first floodlit football match of any code in the North of England. In 1953, a crowd of 69,429 watched Bradford play Huddersfield in the Challenge Cup third round. This was Northern’s highest ever attendance. Northern also won the Yorkshire Cup final 7-2 against Hull. Bradford Northern and Leigh were the first rugby league clubs to stage matches on a Sunday in December 1954, although there was opposition from the Sunday Observance lobby.

1960s

Bradford Northern's support declined rapidly in the 1963 season, attracting a record low crowd of 324 against Barrow. Northern went out of business on 10th December 1963 having played just 13 matches; winning 1 and losing 12, scoring 109 points and conceding 284. In 1964, the Bradford Northern club reformed through the efforts of such people as Trevor Foster and Joe Phillips and were accepted back into the Rugby League. The reformed club won its first cup in 1965-66 by beating Hunslet 17-8 in the final of the Yorkshire Cup.

1970s

In 1972-3 Bradford lost the Challenge Cup final against Featherstone 33-14. In 1973-4 Bradford won the Second Division Championship and were promoted back to the First Division. During this season Keith Mumby made his debut, becoming the Bradford's youngest player at only 16 years of age, scoring 12 goals and a try in a match against Doncaster. He went on to make a record 576 appearances for the club. In 1974-75 Bradford won the Regal Trophy 3-2 against Widnes. Peter Fox joined Bradford as coach for the first time in 1977-78. Bradford won the Premiership final 17-8 against Widnes and were also Championship runners-up. In 1978-79 Bradford appeared in another Premiership final this time losing 24-2 to Leeds. A year later Bradford won the Championship and Regal Trophy, Peter Fox winning the award for Coach of the Year. In 1980-81 the club made it back to back championships.

1980s

In 1981-82, Bradford lost the Yorkshire Cup final 10-5 against Castleford and lost again in 1982-83, this time 18-7 against Hull. Keith Mumby won the award for First Division Player of the Year while Brian Noble won the Young Player award. In 1985 Ellery Hanley left Northern to join Wigan for a then record transfer deal, worth £80,000 and a player exchange involving Steve Donlan and Phil Ford. In 1987-8 Bradford won the Yorkshire Cup final replay against Castleford 11-2 after drawing 12-12. Ron Willey coached Bradford Northern for a short stint in 1989/90 and led them to the Premiership final and success in the Yorkshire Cup final when they beat Featherstone 20-14. Bradford lost the Regal Trophy against Warrington 12-2 in 1990-91. In 1993-4, the last Championship before Super League, Bradford finished as runners up behind Wigan on points difference.

The Super League era

Bradford Bulls Became very successful in the Super League, they have won the title in 1997, 2001, 2003 and 2005

Season Summaries

P=Premiers, R=Runner-Ups, M=Minor Premierships, F=Finals Appearance, W=Wooden Spoons
(Brackets Represent Finals Games)
Competition
Playing In
Games
Played
Games
Won
Games
Drawn
Games
Lost
Ladder
Position
P R M F W Coach Captain Main Article
Super League 1 22 17 0 5 3/12 Brian Smith Robbie Paul Bradford Bulls 1996
Super League 2 22 20 0 2 1/12
X
Matthew Elliott Bradford Bulls 1997
Super League 3 23 12 0 11 5/12
X
Bradford Bulls 1998
Super League 4 30 25 1 4 1\12
X
X
X
Bradford Bulls 1999
Super League 5 28 20 3 5 3/12
X
Bradford Bulls 2000
Super League 6 28 22 1 5 1/12
X
X
X
Brian Noble Bradford Bulls 2001
Super League 7 30 24 0 6 3/12
X
X
Bradford Bulls 2002
Super League 8 30 24 0 6 1/12
X
X
X
Bradford Bulls 2003
Super League 9 28 20 1 7 2/12
X
X
Bradford Bulls 2004
Super League 10 28 18 1 9 3/12
X
X
Jamie Peacock Bradford Bulls 2005
Super League 11 28 16 2 10 4/12
X
Iestyn Harris Bradford Bulls 2006
Steve McNamara
Super League 12 27 16 1 9 3 / 12
X
Paul Deacon Bradford Bulls 2007
Super League 13 27 - - - - - - - - - Bradford Bulls 2008

Symbolism

Tradionally Bradford Bulls Colours are White,Red, Black and Amber, Bradford changed there name in 1995 from Northern to Bulls and the symbol changed from a wild boe to a Bull

Statistics and records

Stadium

Odsal Stadium is a stadium situated in Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. The venue is used for rugby league and has been the home ground of Bradford Bulls since 1934. The official name of the stadium is currently "Grattan Stadium" due to corporate sponsorship. Odsal has also hosted many other sports, including association football, speedway, stock car racing, basketball featuring the Harlem Globetrotters, wrestling, show jumping and kabaddi. The stadium boasts one of the largest attendances of all time for rugby league (102,569) when Halifax played Warrington on the 5th of May, 1954.

2008 Squad Stats

  • Appearances and Points include all matches (As of CCC 4th Rd, April 19th 2008)
No Nat Player Position Weight & Height Age Previous Club Contracted Until Apps Tries Goals DG Points
1 Republic of Ireland Michael Platt Full Back 93 kg, 6 ft 2 in 24 Castleford Tigers 2008 6 1 0 0 4
2 Wales Dave Halley Left Wing 78 kg, 5 ft 9 in 21 Bradford Bulls 2008 8 1 0 0 4
3 Wales James Evans Left Centre 89 kg, 6 ft 0 in 29 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 2008 12 4 0 0 16
4 New Zealand Shontayne Hape Left Centre 104 kg, 6 ft 2 in 26 New Zealand Warriors 2008 11 2 0 0 8
5 New Zealand Tame Tupou Left Wing 110 kg, 6 ft 4 in 25 Brisbane Broncos 2010 5 0 0 0 0
6 Wales Iestyn Harris Stand Off 92 kg, 6 ft 31 Cardiff Blues 2008 10 0 4/4 0 8
7 England Paul Deacon (c) Scrum Half 80 kg, 5 ft 9 in 29 Oldham Bears 2010 10 1 42/49 1 89
8 New Zealand Joe Vagana Prop 120 kg, 6 ft 3 in 33 New Zealand Warriors 2008 4 0 0 0 0
9 England Terry Newton Hooker 98 kg, 5 ft 10 in 29 Wigan Warriors 2009 9 3 0 0 12
10 England Andy Lynch Prop 108 kg, 6 ft 2 in 28 Castleford Tigers 2008 12 0 0 0 0
11 New Zealand David Solomona Second Row 108 kg, 6 ft 0 in 30 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 2009 6 2 0 0 8
12 Australia Glenn Morrison Second Row 97 kg, 6 ft 0 in 31 Parramatta Eels 2008 7 2 0 0 8
13 England Jamie Langley Loose Forward 108 kg, 6 ft 2 in 24 Bradford Bulls 2010 9 0 0 0 0
14 England Chris Feather Prop 114 kg, 6 ft 4 in 26 Leeds Rhinos 2009 8 1 0 0 4
15 England Matt Cook Second Row 95 kg, 6 ft 0 in 21 Bradford Bulls 2009 4 1 0 0 4
16 England Sam Burgess Loose Forward 111 kg, 6 ft 3 in 19 Bradford Bulls 2009 12 3 0 0 12
17 Wales Matt James Prop 100 kg, 6 ft 2 in 20 Bradford Bulls 2009 7 0 0 0 0
18 Wales Craig Kopczak Prop 98 kg, 6 ft 4 in 21 Bradford Bulls 2008 3 0 0 0 0
19 Republic of Ireland Simon Finnigan Loose Forward 95 kg, 6 ft 4 in 26 Salford City Reds 2008 11 3 0 0 12
20 England Wayne Godwin Hooker 13 st, 5 ft 6 in 26 Hull F.C. 2008 12 2 0 0 8
22 Australia Ben Jeffries Stand Off 14 st, 5 ft 9 in 27 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 2009 10 2 0 0 8
23 Italy Chris Nero Second Row 15 st, 6 ft 1 in 27 Huddersfield Giants 2010 11 2 0 0 8
24 England Paul Sykes Right Centre 92 kg, 5 ft 10 in 26 Harlequins RL 2010 11 7 0 0 28
25 Fiji Semi Tadulala Right Wing 14 st 10 lb, 6 ft 30 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 2008 9 5 0 0 20
26 England Jason Crookes Right Centre 83 kg, 5 ft 17 Bradford Bulls 2008 0 0 0 0 0
27 England Richard Johnson Centre 80kg, 5 ft 17 Bradford Bulls 2008 0 0 0 0 0
Apps Tries Goals DG Points
41 46/53 1 259

Ever Present

Players used = 24

Average age = 25.8

Players out of contract at the end of 2008:-

Run-on Team 2008

Black

Subs

Injured

On Season Long Loan

2008 Fixtures/Results

2008 Engage Super League

Date Competition Rd Home Team Score Away Tesm Result Tries Goals Attendance TV Report
10/02/2008 Super League XIII 1 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 26-24 Bradford Bulls Newton 2, Platt, Sykes Deacon 4/5 9,851 Highlights Report
16/02/2008 Super League XIII 2 Bradford Bulls 38-12 Huddersfield Giants Won Newton,Finnigan(2),Evans,Sykes,Morrison Deacon 7/7 10,124 Sky Sports

Highlights

Report
22/02/2008 Super League XIII 3 Bradford Bulls 16-22 St Helens Evans, Sykes (2) Deacon 2/3 10,756 Sky Sports

Highlights

Report
01/03/2008 Super League XIII 4 Wigan Warriors 28-14 Bradford Bulls Godwin, Feather Deacon 3/3 15,444 Sky Sports

Highlights

Report
08/03/2008 Super League XIII 5 Catalans Dragons 18-20 Bradford Bulls Won Morrison, Hape, Finnigan Deacon 4/4 7,485 Highlights Report
16/03/2008 Super League XIII 6 Bradford Bulls 23-10 Warrington Wolves Won Sykes, Burgess, Jeffries Deacon 5/6 (1dg) 11,838 Highlights Report
20/03/2008 Super League XIII 7 Leeds Rhinos 44-2 Bradford Bulls - Deacon 1/1 19,296 Sky Sports

Highlights

Report
24/03/2008 Super League XIII 8 Bradford Bulls 32-24 Harlequins RL Won Burgess,Halley,Solomona, Evans,Deacon Deacon 6/6 8,428 Highlights Report
30/03/2008 Super League XIII 9 Bradford Bulls 50-4 Castleford Tigers Won Godwin,Evans,Tadulala(3) Sykes,Jeffries,Hape,Nero Deacon 6/8 Harris 1/1 10,119 Highlights Report
06/04/2008 Super League XIII 10 Hull FC 8-24 Bradford Bulls Won Nero, Cook, Burgess, Tadulala Deacon 4/6 13,617 Highlights Report
13/04/2008 Super League XIII 11 Hull KR 20-18 Bradford Bulls Tadulala, Sykes, Solomona Harris 3/3 8,377 Highlights Report
19/4/2008 Challenge Cup 4 Bradford Bulls FranceToulouse Olympique Highlights Report
27/04/2008 Super League XIII 12 Bradford Bulls Wigan Warriors Highlights Report
3/05/2008 Super League XIII 13

Cardiff

Bradford Bulls Leeds Rhinos Sky Sports

Highlights

Report
10 or 11/5/2008 Challenge Cup 5 Highlights Report
18/05/2008 Super League XIII 14 Castleford Tigers Bradford Bulls Highlights Report
23/05/2008 Super League XIII 15 Bradford Bulls Leeds Rhinos Sky Sports

Highlights

Report
1,2,3/6/2008 Challenge Cup QF BBC Sport

Highlights

Report
08/06/2008 Super League XIII| 16 Bradford Bulls Catalans Dragons Highlights Report
13/06/2008 Super League XIII 17 St Helens Bradford Bulls Sky Sports

Highlights

Report
21/6/2008 International Break
22/06/2008 Super League XIII 18 Bradford Bulls Hull FC Highlights Report
29/06/2008 Super League XIII 19 Bradford Bulls Hull KR Highlights Report
06/07/2008 Super League XIII 20 Huddersfield Giants Bradford Bulls Highlights Report
26 or 27/7/2008 Challenge Cup SF BBC Sport

Highlights

Report
13/07/2008 Super League XIII 21 Warrington Wolves Bradford Bulls Highlights Report
20/07/2008 Super League XIII 22 Bradford Bulls Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Highlights Report
03/08/2008 Super League XIII 23 Harlequins RL Bradford Bulls Highlights Report
08/08/2008 Super League XIII 24 Leeds Rhinos Bradford Bulls Highlights Report
23/8/2008 Challenge Cup Final

Wembly

BBC Sport

Highlights

Report
17/08/2008 Super League XIII 25 Bradford Bulls Hull FC Highlights Report
24/08/2008 Super League XIII 26 Bradford Bulls Hull KR Highlights Report
07/09/2008 Super League XIII 27 Castleford Tigers Bradford Bulls Highlights Report
12/09/2008 Super League XIII PO1 3rd - 6th Highlights Report
13/09/2008 Super League XIII PO2 4th - 5th Highlights Report
19/09/2008 Super League XIII PO3 1st - 2nd Highlights Report
20/09/2008 Super League XIII PO4 Winner of Play-off 1 - Winner of Play-off 2 Highlights Report
26/09/2008 Super League XIII PO5 Loser of Play-off 3 - Winner of Play-off 4 Highlights Report
04/10/2008 Super League XIII ***SLGF

Old Trafford

Winner of Play-off 3 - Winner of Play-off 5 Highlights Report


Super League XIII
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 St. Helens (L) 27 21 1 5 940 457 +483 43 Semi-final
2 Leeds Rhinos (C) 27 21 0 6 863 413 +450 42
3 Catalans Dragons 27 16 2 9 694 625 +69 34 Elimination semi-finals
4 Wigan Warriors 27 13 3 11 648 698 −50 29
5 Bradford Bulls 27 14 0 13 705 625 +80 28
6 Warrington Wolves 27 14 0 13 690 713 −23 28
7 Hull Kingston Rovers 27 11 1 15 564 713 −149 23
8 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 27 11 0 16 574 760 −186 22
9 Harlequins 27 11 0 16 569 763 −194 22
10 Huddersfield Giants 27 10 1 16 638 681 −43 21
11 Hull F.C. 27 8 1 18 538 699 −161 17
12 Castleford Tigers 27 7 1 19 593 869 −276 15
Source: superleague.co.uk
Rules for classification: 1st on competition points; 2nd on match points difference.
Competition points: for win = 2; for draw = 1; for loss = 0.
(C) Champions; (L) League Leaders' Shield Winners

Captains

Name Started Ended Notes
New Zealand Robbie Paul 1996 2004 Peacock took captaincy
England Jamie Peacock 2005 2005 Moved to Leeds Rhinos
Wales Iestyn Harris 2006 2006 Deacon took captaincy
England Paul Deacon 2007 Present N/A

Coaching Register

From 1930 -

Name Contract Started Contract Ended Notes
Wales Dai Rees 1936 1960 Sacked
Wales Trevor Foster 1960 1961 Sacked
England Doug Greenall 1961 1961 Sacked
England Jimmy Ledgard 1961 1962 Sacked
England Harry Beverley 1962 1963 Sacked
England Jack Wilkinson 1963 1963 Sacked
Wales Gus Risman 1964 1971 Sacked
England Harry Street 1971 1972 Sacked
England Ian Brooke 1973 1975 Sacked
England Roy Francis 1975 1977 Resigned due to ill health
England Peter Fox 1977 1985 end contract
Australia Barry Seaborne 1985 1989 Resigned
England David Hobbs 1989 1989 Caretaker Role
Australia Ron Willey 1989 1990 Sacked
England David Hobbs 1990 1993 Sacked
England Peter Fox 1993 1995 Sacked
Australia Brian Smith 1995 1996 Moved to Parramatta Eels
Australia Matthew Elliott 1996 2000 Moved to Canberra Raiders
England Brian Noble 2001 2006 Moved to Wigan Warriors
England Steve McNamara 2006 Present

Player Records

All-time Top 5 Bradford Bulls Tryscorers

Name Tries
New Zealand Jack McLean 261
England David Redfearn 240
England Tommy Winnard 167
England Eric Batten 156
New Zealand Robbie Paul 156

All-time Top 5 Bradford Bulls Point Scorers

Name Points
England Paul Deacon* 2,306
England Keith Mumby 1985

All-time Top 5 Bradford Bulls Appearances

Name Appearances
England Keith Mumby 588
England George Carmichael 473
England David Redfearn 470
Wales Trevor Foster 433
England Ernest Ward 391

Former Super League Players

Team of the Century

As announced in Bradford's T&A Paper on 31 August, 2007 :Bradford's Team of the Century

Bradford Bulls Team Of The Century

Head Coach

Kit man

See also